Offshore Energy Generation System (OEGS)

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an Offshore Energy Generation System (OEGS), zero greenhouse gases emissions during operations, earthquake and tsunami proof, nuclear meltdown safe, floating ship-shaped, moored. The INVENTION delivers clean energy in the form of electricity and/or ammonia (NH 3 ) and freshwater to offshore or onshore consumers. The INVENTION is effective, affordable and reliable solution for the global climate change and the freshwater scarcity crisis. By deploying this INVENTION across the world, the net zero emissions targets from IPCC can be achieved and the water scarcity crisis mitigated. The INVENTION enables better safety of the population served, optimal use of land, eliminate land use conflicts and enables the protection of the world cultural heritage. The INVENTION comprises of an electric power generation system based on nuclear or hydrogen (H 2 ) fuel cells, ammonia generation, freshwater generation, offshore cranes, data processing centers, blockchain, helideck, telecommunications system, automation and control system, nitrogen and hydrogen generation systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Considering that the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC),from the United Nations, is calling for a net zero challenge; thatrequire a step change in technology innovation in critical areas such asmaking low-carbon electricity the main source for manufacturing, heatingbuildings and powering vehicles, capturing, storing and utilizing carbondioxide before it escapes into the atmosphere, realizing the potentialof clean Hydrogen across many industries, and massively expanding theuse of sustainable bioenergy.

Considering that to accomplish this challenge it will be necessary toincrease our worldwide energy supply to about 50% more than was beingproduced in 2018; and at the same time execute a major decarbonizationof entire economies worldwide to reduce the carbon emission to theatmosphere to levels that ensure a secure environment. This will requirethe rapid development of many technologies that are still in their veryearly stages today—some of them are barely out of the laboratory. RecentIEA (International Energy Agency) analysis have assessed the marketreadiness of 400 different technologies that will be needed, but findsthat only about half of the additional emissions savings needed to reachnet-zero emissions by 2050 are available to the market today.

Considering the urgency of this call to action the authors performed avery detailed and systematic analysis of all the current technologiesavailable for power generation and storage. Utilizing their extensiveproject management, engineering experience and business mindset as thefoundation; as well as market analysis from the customer perspective toprovide a best-in-class solution to address the climate challenge.

At the time of submittal of this document, about 13% (940 million) ofthe world population does not have access to electricity; about 11% (840million) of the world population does not have access to drinking waterand about 40% (3 billion) of the world population does not have accessto clean fuels for cooking. This comes at a high health cost for indoorair pollution. Based on current forecasts about 25% of the worldpopulation will likely live in a country affected by chronic orrecurring freshwater shortages.

The total area of the world ocean Is about 361.9 million squarekilometers (139.7 million square miles), which covers about 70.9% ofEarth's surface and there are about 620,000 kilometers (372,000 miles)of coastline in the only planet we have. Over one-third of the totalhuman population, nearly 2.4 billion people, lives within 100 km (60miles) of an oceanic coast.

The Offshore Energy Generation System (OEGS), from this point forwardreferred as INVENTION (in capital letters), is conceived based on thecareful and systematic study of the worldwide people needs, worldwideresources and hands on experience of the inventors delivering worldclass solutions. The INVENTION design philosophy is from the customerperspective and delivers unique functionality, superior safety,reliability, flexibility, low-cost clean electrical energy, freshwaterand ammonia. The INVENTION generates no greenhouse gases and nocarbon-based products during its normal operations or through theproducts it delivered. The INVENTION leverages on the existing laws ofphysics instead of trying to oppose them as other prior art. TheINVENTION generates clean energy that can be delivered in the form ofelectricity and/or ammonia (NH₃) and freshwater to offshore or onshoreconsumers. There could be some greenhouse gases during its constructionand transportation to site based on the construction and materials.

Chinese patent CN105059489A, describes a constantly stable offshorenuclear power platform set of structures very different that the onesproposed in the ship-shaped INVENTION. The patent CN105059489A it isalso limited to the generation of electricity and water desalinization,meanwhile the INVENTION also generates ammonia that could be used as anenergy source and/or agricultural fertilizer; and it is notcharacterized to produce zero carbon emissions. The claims on the patentCN105059489A are mainly centered in hull components that are also verydifferent than the ones proposed in the INVENTION.

Chinese patents CN104960637A offshore nuclear power platform for shallowice sea regions and CN104960637B marine nuclear power platform forshallow water ice formation marine site relates to an offshore nuclearpower platform for shallow ice sea regions; meanwhile the INVENTION isnot intended for shallow sea regions and it not designed for articclimate conditions.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,443,620B2 reactor containment vessel and nuclear powerplant is related and limited to the specific design of a nuclearreactor; meanwhile the INVENTION can use any nuclear fission or fusionreactor or Hydrogen cell for power generation and includes many othersystems as comprising water desalinization, Nitrogen generator, Hydrogenand ammonia generation systems.

The Chinese patents CN105501404A oversea floating type nuclear powergenerating device of polygonal structure, CN104264646A Concrete marinenuclear power platform and CN204252096U the marine nuclear powerplatform of a kind of concrete are related to specific geometry like thepolygonal structure defined in the CN105501404A or the concretematerials used on the CN104264646A and CN204252096U. The INVENTION isnot claiming the use this geometry or concrete materials.

The international patent WO2015147952A3 and the U.S. Pat. No.7,331,303B2, floating nuclear power reactor with a self-coolingcontainment structure and an emergency heat exchange system; claim aspecific type of nuclear reactor meanwhile. The INVENTION does not claimto work with this type of nuclear reactors. The WO2015147952A3 floatingnuclear power reactor includes a self-cooling containment structure andan emergency heat exchange system meanwhile the INVENTION does not claimthis or similar design.

The Chinese patent CN204066759U nuclear power station of removablemarine nuclear power platform describes a specific nuclear platformdesign that has a removable caisson. The INVENTION does not claim toinclude a removable caisson or similar design.

The U.S. Pat. No. 10,269,462B2 semi-submersible nuclear power plant andmulti-purpose platform scope includes a nuclear power plant isintegrated into the submerged hull of an offshore, floating spar or cellspar platform and the INVENTION is not claiming to use asemi-submersible spar hull type but a ship shaped hull. Furthermore, thepatent U.S. Pat. No. 10,269,462B2 it is also limited to generatingelectricity and ancillary services for its own use like desalinatedwater, meanwhile the INVENTION generates clean energy that can bedelivered in the form of electricity or ammonia (NH₃) and/or freshwaterto offshore or onshore consumers.

The International Patent WO2010/096735A1 and the US patentUS20140140466A1 for the offshore energy carrier is a nuclear fissionplant intended to produce and dispatch energy carriers from hydrogen tohydrocarbons such as methanol and jet fuel. The INVENTION differs fromthis patent, as it is a zero-carbon facility that does not generate anytype of hydrocarbons such as methanol, jet fuel and others. Even thoughthat the INVENTION also generates hydrogen for its internal processes,the INVENTION is not claiming to deliver hydrogen as a product.Moreover, the INVENTION is not limited to the use of nuclear fission forelectricity generation as it can generated from nuclear fusion orHydrogen (H₂) fuel cell.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,291A for an underwater nuclear power plantstructure comprising a triangular platform formed of tubular leg andtruss members upon which are attached one or more large sphericalpressure vessels is completely different than the INVENTION is notinstalled underwater and does not have a triangular arrangement of trussmembers. The INVENTION is a ship shaped floating energy system.

There have been multiple floating nuclear facilities constructed sincethe 1960's when the US Army commissioned the Sturgis as the firstfloating nuclear power plant. But none of these facilities have theunique characteristics included on the claim of the INVENTION. TheINVENTION is based on the current desired of the humanity of having zerocarbon emissions, clean freshwater and ammonia as energy carrier for thehydrogen. None of the previous INVENTIONS have the process described onthe figures of the specification of this patent.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The INVENTION is the solution for the net zero challenge for producingclean energy, in the form of electricity and/or freshwater and/orAmmonia (NH₃) as energy carrier for Hydrogen (H₂). The INVENTION isflexible to provide all the three products: electricity, freshwater andAmmonia (NH₃) or any combination of one, two or three of them accordingto the customer requirements.

The INVENTION consists of a ship-shaped floating structure moored at theseabed with the systems required to deliver electricity and/orfreshwater and/or Hydrogen (H₂) and/or Nitrogen (N₂) and/or Ammonia(NH₃) to be exported to shore or other offshore or subsea systems viasubmerged electrical cables and/or pipelines, as applicable. Otheroffshore or subsea systems, such as offshore oil and gas productionsystems, e.g., spars, semi-submersible, FPSO (Floating, Production,Storage and Offloading) or similar; offshore marine terminals, ports,industrial or recreational parks, offshore and/or underwater computerdata centers, aerospace offshore facilities, offshore fish and foodprocessing, etc.

The INVENTION responds effectively to the climate challenge andfreshwater scarcity, the need for clean liquid fuels; but it alsoenables a better land management and urban planning and development. TheINVENTION could accelerate the development of many coastlines that arecurrently deserted as they are isolated due lack of freshwater; or thecoastline is used for existing oil refineries, coal facilities and otherfacilities that could be transitioned to other use to satisfy the needsof the society.

The INVENTION is a floating system that will operate in a similar way ofan offshore oil and gas producing system, with crews manning the systems24 hours, accommodation facilities, helipad and/or boat landing for crewtransport, cranes for handling material and people to and from thesupply boat, life-saving equipment, electronic connectivity to theoutside world and other systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—High level schematic process view, where the steam generatorfeeds steam to the steam turbine for electricity generation. The steamcoming out the turbine is further used for seawater distillation processto generate freshwater. The remaining steam (not represented) could beused to power certain machines, as an example the freshwater exportpumps, Ammonia (NH₃) export pumps (or compressors), seawater intakepumps and others. From a fraction of the freshwater generated onboard,Hydrogen (H₂) is generated via water electrolysis; Nitrogen (N₂) isgenerated via commercially available systems. Utilizing the Hydrogen(H₂) and the Nitrogen (N₂), Ammonia (NH₃) is generated, and exported toshore via pipeline in liquid or gaseous form.

FIG. 2—Schematic profile view of the ship-shaped floating structure,outfitted with spread mooring. It shows the general main componentslayout.

FIG. 3—Schematic plan view of the ship-shaped floating structure,outfitted with spread mooring. It shows the general main componentslayout.

FIG. 4—Schematic profile view of the ship-shaped floating structure,outfitted with Turret. It shows the general main components layout.Differentiation between internal turret and external turret are notshown.

FIG. 5—Schematic plan view of the ship-shaped floating structure,outfitted with Turret. It shows the general main components layout.Differentiation between internal turret and external turret are notshown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The process starts with high heat generation reaction; this heat istransferred to the water surrounding the reactor. The water surroundingthe reactor is circulated through a heat exchanger never enters incontact with the secondary heating medium of the heat exchanger. Steamwill be generated in the secondary heating medium system. This steam isconditioned and directed to a steam turbine where high voltageelectrical power will be generated. The steam that leaves the steamturbine is used in the process of freshwater distillation. From thefreshwater distillation the remaining steam will be utilized to drivemachinery and will be returned to the beginning of the process forfurther recirculation. Nitrogen (N₂) is generated onboard viacommercially available Nitrogen (N₂) generation systems. Hydrogen (H₂)is generated onboard utilizing a fraction of the freshwater produced viaelectrolysis process. Combining the Hydrogen (H₂) and the Nitrogen (N₂)in the Ammonia (NH₃) Generation System, we'll have a carbon-free energysource that is exported to shore via subsea pipeline that connects theship-shaped floating structure to the receiving terminal. The Ammonia(NH₃) could be exported in liquid or gaseous phase, depending on thecapabilities of the receiving customer. The receiving shore terminalprocesses the Ammonia (NH₃) further for sales and distribution. Oxygen(O₂) is a by-product from the Nitrogen (N₂) Generation System and theHydrogen (H₂) Generation System and is to be safely vented to theatmosphere.

The INVENTION is outfitted with electrical transformers to condition thepower for exportation. The power exported could be alternated current(AC) or direct current (DC), depending on the power level and thedistance between the INVENTION and the substation onshore, or at theoffshore consumer.

The subsea power export cable connects to the INVENTION and is laid onthe seabed until it reaches the shoreline, or other offshore systems,where it's connected to the receiving substation for furtherconditioning and distribution to the consumers. This receivingsubstation, if needed could be located onshore, or in other offshoresystems, such as offshore oil and gas production systems, e.g. spars,semi-submersibles, FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading),etc.

If Freshwater is also required, the Seawater from the ocean will bepumped to the freshwater maker plant for distillation. Brine will bereturned to the ocean and freshwater will be conditioned and stored inthe ship-shaped tanks for further processing and exportation. Thestorage tanks layout and design are similar to the regular tanker shipsfound in the market today.

If Hydrogen (H₂) is also required a Hydrogen (H₂) generation systemelectrically driven will be supplied using electrolysis and thefreshwater distilled as the inputs of the Hydrogen (H₂) generationsystem.

If Nitrogen (N₂) is also required a Nitrogen generation systemelectrically driven will be supplied using commercially availablesystems.

If Ammonia (NH₃) is also required, an Ammonia (NH₃) Generation Systemwill combine Hydrogen (H₂) and Nitrogen to produce Ammonia in the formof NH₃. The generated Ammonia (NH₃) is pumped to the shore terminal inliquid or gaseous form via pipeline connecting the ship-shaped floatingstructure and the shore terminal.

A subsea pipeline connects the ship-shaped floating structure and islaid on the seabed until it reaches the shoreline where it's connectedto freshwater city-grid for further processing and distribution.

If required a water pump export pumps system is provided that isresponsible to transfer the freshwater from the storage tanks to thepipeline that connects to the city grid. If required an Ammonia (NH₃)export system is provided from the storage tanks to the pipeline thatconnects to the consumers.

The ship-shaped floating structure is kept in place by a mooring system.Depending on the water depth, oceanic and meteorologic conditions, thereare two types of mooring method that could be selected:

Type 1: Spread mooring, where mooring lines are connected to the seabedby means of suction piles, regular anchors or torpedoes anchors. Theship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with mooring equipment onthe four corners (forward-portside, forward-starboard side, aft-portsideand aft-starboard side), where the mooring lines will be connected andproperly tensioned. This system has an inherent flexibility that allowsthe floating structure excursion within the operational limits of thewhole system

Type 2: Turret mooring, where the bow of the ship-shaped floatingstructure is outfitted with a turret equipment, This turret equipmentallows multiple 360 degrees free rotation around the center-point of theturret according to the prevailing weather (wind and ocean conditions).The turret could be installed internally or externally to theship-shaped structure. The electrical power export line, the freshwaterand Ammonia export lines pass inside the turret and is laid on theseabed until they reach the consumers. The inner portion of the turretoutfitted with mooring equipment, where the mooring lines will beconnected and properly tensioned. In case the INVENTION is installed ina hurricane area, disconnectable turret are to be selected. This systemhas an inherent flexibility that allows the floating structure excursionwithin the operational limits of the whole system.

For both types of mooring system, the mooring lines are designed with acombination of chain and synthetic mooring lines, according to thedesign specific to the installation area.

Advanced automation and control technology is to be utilized to controlall the processes onboard the ship-shaped floating structure.Additionally, encrypted remote control capabilities are installed toenable control from the central control room located in a designatedlocation onshore, where the operator has offices. Safe, reliable andsecure remote control is archived by the selection of power cableoutfitted with multicore fiber optics, which enables direct connectionto the operator's network infrastructure.

The ship-shaped floating structure is to be outfitted with suitableaccommodations for the crew living onboard in a rotation scheme.Helideck to be outfitted on the top of the accommodation in order toallow transportation of people and small parts. Cranes suitable forregular operation and special maintenance are to be outfitted on bothsides of the ship-shaped floating structure. Other systems likelighting, air conditioning, compressed air, sewage, firefighting,navigational aids, entertainment, ballast, hot water, and othersrequired by flag State, International Labor Organization andClassification Societies are to be installed to assure safety of manonboard.

For increased protection, the ship-shaped floating structure isoutfitted with an emergency generator capable to sustain emergencysystems in operation for a period of 21 days with intensive automationand remote control as described above. The INVENTION is also outfittedwith an uninterruptable power system (UPS) that is able to sustainemergency systems operations for few minutes while the emergencygenerator is automatically started and put online.

The ship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with the isolationtechnology called “double hull” on the critical areas (side shell andbottom), according to the state of art shipbuilding current standards.

The ship-shaped floating structure is yet designed to be built in aregular shipyard, where the integration of the heat generator systemwill be carried out. The heat generating equipment supplier will deliverthe system in large parts for further integration with the ship-shapedfloating structure. The INVENTION is also designed to be wet-towed ordry-transported from the shipyard to the final operation location andlater at the end of the design life, from the operation to the scrapyard or any other relocation required during the life of the asset.

The ship-shaped floating structure design life is between 20 and 60years with major maintenance during the operational life.

The heat generating source technology chosen could be nuclear fusion,nuclear fission or Hydrogen (H₂) fuel cell. All of them are viablesolutions. The latter require a simpler system once electricity isproduced directly from the fuel cell, excluding the requirement of steamhandling and steam turbines.

The system is outfitted with multiple redundant emergency pumps andfail-open valves that ensures constant source of cooling medium(seawater) to the heat generating source in order to avoid overheatingand further damages.

The diagram in FIG. 1 illustrates the process described above. Thesystem is scalable from micro to giga generators and as many redundancysub-systems as required by the client and regulatory authorities. Whichwill drive the size of the ship-shaped floating structure.

Additionally, the freshwater storage tanks serves the purpose toregulate the freshwater export flow and as an emergency secondaryheat-sink system to cooldown the heat generator. The freshwater storagevolume will depend on the operator's preference, could range from 0hours of storage to multiple days.

What is claimed is:
 1. An INVENTION comprising: A floating ship-shapedfacility safely moored to the seabed eliminating earthquakes andtsunamis impacts on the technical integrity of the INVENTION. AnElectric Power Generation System based on nuclear fission or nuclearfusion or Hydrogen (H2) fuel cell. A steam generation system. A seawatercollection system. A freshwater generation system using the seawatercollected on location and the residual thermal energy generated by theINVENTION. A Hydrogen (H₂) Generation system using the freshwaterdistilled onboard and the electrical energy generated onboard theINVENTION. A Nitrogen (N₂) Generation System using compressed air andthe electrical energy generated onboard the INVENTION. An AmmoniaGeneration System using the Hydrogen (H₂), the Nitrogen (N₂) and theelectrical energy generated onboard the INVENTION. A cooling watersystem. An electric power export facilities and cables connecting to theconsumers, being other offshore structures like FPSOs (Floating,Production, Storage and Offloading), semi-submersible, spars or alike.Or connecting to the host country electrical power grid. A freshwaterexport system. An ammonia export system. Multiple Offshore Cranes forsafe and reliable operations and material handling Living quarters withHelideck. A state of art automation, control and safety system.
 2. TheINVENTION according to claim 1 wherein said Floating ship-shapedfacility safely moored to the seabed could have Type 1: Spread mooringor Type 2: Turret mooring.
 3. The INVENTION according to claim 2 whereinsaid Spread mooring could have where mooring lines are connected to theseabed by means of suction piles, anchors or torpedoes anchors.
 4. TheINVENTION according to claim 2 wherein said Spread mooring theship-shaped floating structure could be outfitted with mooring equipmenton the perimetry (forward-portside, forward-starboard side, aft-portsideand aft-starboard side), where the mooring lines will be connected andproperly tensioned as illustrated in the FIGS. 2 and
 3. 5. The INVENTIONaccording to claim 2 wherein said Turret mooring, where the bow of theship-shaped floating structure is outfitted with a turret equipment, asillustrated in the FIGS. 4 and 5
 6. The INVENTION according to claim 5wherein said Turret mooring, the said turret could be installedinternally or externally to the ship-shaped structure.
 7. The INVENTIONcording to claim 5 wherein said Turret mooring, the said turret has theoption of being outfitted with a disconnectable system. The INVENTIONaccording to claim 5 wherein said Turret mooring, the said electricalpower export line, the freshwater export line and the ammonia exportlines pass inside the said turret and are laid on the seabed. The innerportion of the turret outfitted with mooring equipment, where themooring lines are connected and properly tensioned.
 8. The INVENTIONaccording to claim 1 wherein said electric power generation system basedon nuclear fission of fusion will be provided with a said cooling watersystem that will minimize, and almost eliminate, the possibility of asevere nuclear meltdown.
 9. The INVENTION according to claim 1 whereinsaid a freshwater export system to be exported to shore or otheroffshore or subsea systems via pipelines and/or other marine vessels.10. The INVENTION according to claim 1 wherein said an ammonia exportsystem to be exported to shore, or other offshore or subsea systems viapipelines and/or other marine vessels.
 11. The INVENTION according toclaim 1 could also be used to provide energy for other offshorefacilities offshore or subsea systems, such as offshore oil and gasproduction systems needing energy for carbon capture via reinjectioninto the reservoir, e.g., spars, semis-submersibles, FPSO (Floating,Production, Storage and Offloading) or similar; offshore marineterminals, ports, industrial or recreational parks, offshore and/orunderwater computer data centers, aerospace offshore facilities,offshore fish and food processing, etc.
 12. The INVENTION according toclaim 1 could be fabricated to provide any combination of electric powerand/or ammonia and/or freshwater. To help resolve the customer needs andalleviate the climate challenge and water scarcity.
 13. The INVENTIONaccording to claim 1 could include with an onboard data center withcomputing and networking equipment for the purpose of collecting,storing, processing, distributing, or allowing access to large amountsof data or operations for telecommunications, internet or blockchaintechnologies for crypto currency operations or similar.
 14. TheINVENTION according to claim 1 could include freshwater storage tanksand/or ammonia storage.
 15. The INVENTION according to claim 1 isoutfitted with freshwater conditioning systems such as mineralizationsystem and chlorination system.